ne, the full weight of her catastrophic failure finally crushing her. She was no

ark contrast to the chaos of the evening. "Your cousin has confessed to attempted murder and a con

"Your Highness, with all due respect, this began as a matter of House Michael. Befo

s's stony expression flickered. Damian himself raised a sin

urned back to Lydia, who was now shrinki

?" Lydia whimpered.

in the silent hall, echoing off the stone walls, sharp and clean. Lydia's

graced Elara Michael had just struck h

into silence, her hand coming

and hard as the floor, "was for E

ds, Sloane's other hand swung around, s

the name of Michael with yo

pampered lady. They were precise

Sloane was faster. A swift kick to the chest sent Lydia sprawl

. The action was shocking in its dominance, profoundly insulting. Damian watched from his chair, his eyes narrowe

House Michael, any member of a lesser branch who conspires to murder a

es widened

parents will be stripped of their titles and lands. Their entire family will be c

his wasn't just a threat of death. I

alousy worth it? Was your desire to be a princess for a day worth condemning you

her family, her proud parents, being cast into the dirt

she gasped, tears and snot running down her face, her body shaking with violent tremo

broken, a hysteri

reck of her cousin with cold detachment. She didn't want

Tell the Prince Regent what y

obs, she confessed it all again-the jealousy, the poison, Jed Tucker, the plan to frame her in f

arrate her own downfall, to tear down her own charac

t vow was fulfilled. This was for the girl whose bo

ged the girl

-